Haiti

US Treasury calls for full cancellation of Haiti debt

Feb 5th, 2010 5:20 PM UTC
By Chris Scott

Big news. The U.S. Treasury Department just announced their intent to work with partners around the world to forgive Haiti’s debt in full. They also voiced their support that aid to Haiti come in the form of grants, not loans.

As you know, ONE has repeatedly pushed for these principles, including a massive campaign that as of now has received over 200,000 signatures. We will continue to push world leaders to cancel Haiti’s debt, including a petition delivery at the G7 finance ministers meeting in Iqaluit, Canada tomorrow.

This morning’s announcement from the U.S. Treasury is a tremendous step forward to giving Haiti a real chance to recover from last month’s devastating earthquake. This momentum would not have been possible without ONE members. Thank you for all your hard work.

Here’s the U.S. Treasury Department’s statement in full:

SECRETARY GEITHNER VOICES SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEBT RELIEF FOR HAITI, FINANCING OF RECOVERY THROUGH GRANTS

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced the United States will work with its partners around the world to relieve all debts owed by Haiti to international institutions and to ensure grant financing to support Haiti’s reconstruction and recovery from the devastating earthquake in January.

“The earthquake in Haiti was a catastrophic setback to the Haitian people who are now facing tremendous emergency humanitarian and reconstruction needs, and meeting Haiti’s financing needs will require a massive multilateral effort,” said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “Today, we are voicing our support for what Haiti needs and deserves – comprehensive multilateral debt relief.”

Secretary Geithner also welcomed International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s call to provide full relief for Haiti’s outstanding IMF debt, including the $102 million emergency loan approved on January 27, 2010.

“We are committed to working quickly and closely with these institutions in a way that provides immediate grant assistance to help the Haitian people recover and rebuild,” Secretary Geithner continued. “I very much welcome the initiative taken on this issue by leaders in Congress, the IMF, and the MDBs and look forward to working with them to provide the critical support Haiti needs for recovery as well as to discussing this issue with my G-7 colleagues this weekend.”

Treasury announced that the U.S. intends to seek a commitment with other donors for the relief of Haiti’s debt to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the International Development Association (IDA) in a manner that provides direct and immediate grant support to Haiti.

In September 2009, the U.S. concluded an agreement with Haiti that eliminated 100 percent of the Haitian Government’s outstanding debt to the U.S. This action was taken following Haiti’s successful completion of the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative process in June 2009.

THIS CLOSE to 200,000

Feb 3rd, 2010 9:05 PM UTC
By Chris Scott

Our petition asking world leaders to forgive Haiti’s debt currently has over 197,000 signers– a truly staggering number. As we stand on the doorstep of a remarkable 200,000 signers, we’re also grateful for the support of– who else– the Barenaked Ladies who recently plugged the petition on their blog.

The immediate cancellation of Haiti’s near-$1 billion debt would give the country a chance for real and lasting recovery. Later this week finance ministers will be meeting in the Arctic Canadian town of Iqaluit where we plan on delivering our petition. Please forward this to your friends and family and help push us over the 200k threshold so that we can make the biggest impact possible.

Thank you for all you do.

Momentum builds to cancel Haiti’s debt

Jan 28th, 2010 5:33 PM UTC
By Weldon Kennedy

Momentum is really now building to cancel Haiti’s $1 billion debt and give the country a clean slate as it begins reconstruction efforts.

Since we launched our campaign we’ve seen real progress, which is giving us hope that we can help score a success.

According to reports, Venezuela now plans to cancel its share of the debt. As we’ve reported, Haiti’s debt to Venezuela is approximately $295 million. This is an enormous step forward in Haiti’s path to full debt cancellation. Announcing the cancellation, Venezuelan resident Hugo Chávez is reported to have said, “Haiti has no debt with Venezuela – on the contrary, it is Venezuela that has a historic debt with Haiti.”

Adding to the increasing volume of calls asking world leaders to forgive Haiti’s debt, Canada’s Finance Minister Jim Flaherty yesterday argued that given Haiti’s current focus and priorities, the country should not be burdened by “liabilities of its past.” Flaherty specifically called on others to follow Canada’s lead of debt cancellation.

All of this is very encouraging, but we still have much work to do. So our attention is now turning to governments directly, especially those attending the G7 Finance Ministers Meeting next week.

Thank you to everyone who has taken action so far. With your help we really are making a difference.

Delivering for Haiti

Jan 27th, 2010 5:17 PM UTC
By Weldon Kennedy

Momentum continues to grow for cancelation of Haiti’s $1 billion in debts so that the country can have a clean slate upon which to rebuild.

Yesterday evening ONE’s Tom Hart delivered the signatures of more than 150,000 ONE members calling for debt relief to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Tom Hart hands IMF Spokeswoman Caroline Atkinson a CD with the petition’s signatures

Of Haiti’s $1 billion debt, the IMF holds a relatively small amount, $165 million, but swift action by the IMF would increase momentum and pressure on all creditors. The IMF intends to move quickly to provide immediate financial assistance on the most favourable terms that it has at its disposal, zero-interest loans.

This delivery is just the first of several that we’ll have to make and we’ll have to work to put pressure on some of the other large creditors.

The response to the action has been incredible, and since we presented the petition to the IMF, almost 10,000 more people have signed, making our calls even stronger.

But we still have much work to do, and need to show continued and growing interest in debt cancellation.

So once you’ve signed, or if you’ve already done so, please do take a moment to ask 2-3 of your friends to join you in taking action. The more of us do it, the greater impact we’ll have when we hand over to the next of Haiti’s creditors.

Help Haiti Today

Jan 20th, 2010 6:18 PM UTC
By Keren Dongo

In the last few days, I have learned that most of my family members in Haiti, though homeless, are alive. Even as we grieve for those we lost, we are thankful for the safety of other loved ones, and for the incredible outpouring of concern, aid, and assistance coming from all over the world.

Since this disaster occurred last Tuesday, I have wanted nothing more than to go to Haiti to help, hold and comfort my family and other survivors. Knowing I can’t do that now, I am putting all my energies into helping Haitians rebuild their lives without the burden of debt. Like me you can’t go to Haiti today, but here is what we can do: we can convince global creditors to cancel Haiti’s $1 billion international debt.

Please click here to sign ONE’s petition calling for cancellation of Haiti’s debts

Petition text:

As Haiti rebuilds from this disaster, please work to secure the immediate cancellation of Haiti’s $1 billion debt and ensure that any emergency earthquake assistance is provided in the form of grants, not debt-incurring loans.

Haiti needs a sustained international effort as it seeks to recover from this earthquake. The current outpouring of support is encouraging, and now we need to cancel Haiti’s debt so the country can start its recovery without the burden of debts it won’t be able to pay. In addition we must be vigilant that new aid doesn’t come in the form of loans that would create new debt for Haiti.

But here and now, there is a very clear goal: let’s get rid of this crippling debt.

Keren Dongo
Community Engagement Manager, ONE.org

P.S. Today we updated our petition text from our initial ask for $890 million worth of debt cancellation to $1 billion to reflect new information on further debt of which we were not previously aware.

Help Haiti – Drop the debt

Jan 16th, 2010 5:39 PM UTC
By Roxane Philson

The harrowing images and stories coming out of Haiti are devastating to watch. Though I spend every day with the statistics and stories of extreme poverty, the scale of this tragedy is heartbreaking. Times like this remind me of our common humanity and the need to do all we can to help…

So here’s our goal as ONE: $890 million for Haiti. That’s how much Haiti owes to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and a handful of others.

Sign the petition to ask Haiti’s creditors to act quickly and cancel Haiti’s debts:

Petition text:
Dear finance ministers, IMF, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and bilateral creditors:
As Haiti rebuilds from this disaster, please work to secure the immediate cancellation of Haiti’s $890 million debt and ensure that any emergency earthquake assistance is provided in the forms of grants, not debt-incurring loans.

Haiti’s debt was largely accrued under the corrupt Duvalier regime, which borrowed money recklessly and spent it selfishly for 30 years. The new government has struggled with debt payments. And now, as the nation tries to recover from one of the worst disasters in recent years we can help by lifting this debt.

Please join ONE and sign the petition today

Act Now

Thank you for doing your bit,

Roxane Philson

Update on Haiti

Jan 15th, 2010 11:14 AM UTC
By David Cole

As further news reaches us from Haiti following Tuesday’s earthquake, the true scale of the disaster is now emerging. Reports now suggest as many as 50,000 people may have died, with hundreds of thousands made homeless.

International rescue efforts are now being mobilized in a race against time to help those affected.

Since news of the disaster first broke many people have asked how they can help.

If you live in the UK you can donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee, which is a collection of some of the country’s largest overseas aid organizations.

In other countries please check your local media and national organizations to see who is collecting donations.

You can also donate via the following international aid organizations:

Oxfam
Save the Children
The Red Cross
Caritas
CARE
Médecins Sans Frontières
International Rescue Committee
World Vision

Haiti earthquake

Jan 13th, 2010 6:16 PM UTC
By David Cole

As I’m sure you’ve seen in the news, a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck south of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, yesterday. While many details about the situation on the ground are still developing, the BBC reports that thousands of people are feared dead.

The UN and other relief organizations are now gearing up to provide emergency support to those affected in the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

UNICEF, which has been working in Haiti since 1949, reports:

In coordination with all other UN agencies present on the ground, UNICEF will provide supplies to allow access to adequate sanitation, safe water and basic health care.

UNICEF is also preparing materials and staff so that children, tremendously vulnerable during natural catastrophes, are protected. UNICEF materials and advisors will assist so that children are able to continue learning and studying, and be provided safe recreation areas while their caretakers turn to rebuilding their lives.